Call this helpline for info on swine flu testing centres

A helpline was launched and the number of free swine flu testing centres increased from three to five on Thursday even as the Delhi government confirmed that the ailment has hit 1,789  people so far.

The helpline number 011-22307145 has been started for giving information on swine flu.

The government has directed the Maulana Azad Medical College Hospital and the University College of Medical Sciences Hospital to open their labs for tests of swine flu. Earlier, there were just three government hospitals for the test. 

The state government has already capped the rate of tests in private labs at a maximum of Rs 4,500, after reports that some labs were earlier charging upto Rs 12,000.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the medicine stock has been doubled to address swine flu situation and 25 hospitals including private ones have been roped in for tackling the problem.

Dismissing reports of shortage of medicines, Jain said: “There were some reports about the lack of medicines and we checked...there is no dearth of medicines.”He said the state government has granted licences to 40 new drug stores for selling medicines of swine flu. 

Jain said people can also give their complaints on the helpline if any lab charges more money than the rate fixed by the government for swine flu test.

‘Do not panic’

Jain appealed to the people not to panic since the situation is under control and the state government is monitoring the situation. On Tuesday, a 28-year-old woman who was suffering from swine flu successfully gave birth to a baby in a private hospital here.

The woman was over seven months pregnant when she was referred to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Pregnant women are at higher risks of contracting severe forms of swine flu and in most cases the infection can be life threatening. It also becomes difficult to revive the patients or to save the babies, they added.